Just because you live lakeside in cottage country doesn’t mean you have to conjure Paul Bunyan.

But this walkout bungalow did. Located in Lakefield, Ont., in the Kawarthas, the 1970s-built 3,200-square-foot home featured a surplus of that old cottage staple, glossy pine, as well as a mishmash of outdated furnishings, making it feel stodgy.

But the most pronounced problem was the sunken foyer. Its flooring transition was a tripping hazard, with or without a few glasses of wine. On the positive side, the dwelling was structurally sound, requiring only an overhaul to the shell.

For that, the pair of empty nesters who live here with their dog and cat turned to Sonja Sanderson. The designer and creative director of Birchview Design had already successfully revamped the husband’s offsite offi

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